Having spent an incredible nine months in space, stranded astronauts Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams were finally brought back to Earth on Tuesday (March 18).

Having initially made their way to the International Space Station (ISS) in June of 2024, the pair were supposed to complete their mission and make a return journey to Earth after just eight days.

A string of complications, however, forced those plans to change. All told, Wilmore and Williams have been stuck on the ISS for nine months.

When the pair were finally rescued, being ferried back to their home planet aboard the Space X Dragon spacecraft, they were whisked away on stretchers before they could take a first step on land.Needless to say, returning from such a long stint in space means adjusting to a fair few things on Earth, with it reported that Wilmore and Williams may face adverse health ramifications.

Aside from breathing actual oxygen from the air, the astronauts are also experiencing gravity against their bones for the first time in nine months, and will also have to contend with conditions such as ‘chicken legs’ and ‘baby feet’, as well as an increased risk of cancer, as per the Daily Mail.